It was well worth the significant logistical effort of skipper Aongus Ó Cualáin to transport his Galway Hooker Blát na hÓige from Connemara to Dublin's River Liffey by road last week as the 1896-built traditional vessel won first prize in Saturday's Dublin Bay Old Gaffers Association Diamond Jubilee celebration, bringing home to County Galway the prestigious DBOGA Asgard Trophy.
White-sailed Hooker: With white sails as opposed to the more popular tan, plus battens in the main and staysail, winner Blát na hÓige cuts a unique pose at a turning mark in Saturday's Dublin Bay Old Gaffers Association Asgard Trophy race Photo: Afloat
Blát na hÓige was transported overland to compete in the annual race and was launched into the capital's waters close to the Thomas Clarke Bridge on the River Liffey, where her mast was re-stepped and the trad boat re-rigged all in time for the weekend's racing.
Connemara bound - the winning Blát na hÓige are pictured on the River Liffey campshire all packed and ready for the long road home after a successful trip to the capital's waters
Fourteen gaff-rigged boats competed for the big prize from a total fleet of 40 yachts and dinghies that gathered at Dublin Port for two days to celebrate the 60th anniversary overseen by DBOGA President Adrian Spence, as Afloat reports here.
Conceived initially as a Gleoiteog in 1896, a Galway Hooker size that ranges in length from 7 to 9 metres (24 to 28 feet), when Blát na hÓige's keel timbers arrived, they were deemed of such top quality that it would be a shame to cut them so she was built at 28-foot and four inches in length thus becoming a 'Gleoiteog-Mor' and unique addition to the Hooker fleet of Lettermullan island
The primary race of the event for the Asgard Trophy was run by Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club's Principal Race Officer John Alvey and was held out in Dublin Bay in light airs of seven to 10 knots.
Other runners included the Isle of Man Master Frank, a Manx half-deck fishing boat, and the 52-foot Letty, a vintage Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter.
The Asgard half-model trophy is a much sought-after prize in Old Gaffer circles as Asgard conservator John Keraon designed the award, and it contains a part of Asgard's original timber as part of the trophy.
Galway Hooker Blát na hÓige skipper Aongus Ó Cualáin with some of his trophy haul that also included first Working boat Prize from the Dublin Bay Old Gaffers Association Diamond Jubilee celebration at Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club
The winning crew comprised Ó Cualáin, his brother Fergus, Michael Mulkerrin, John Geoghegan, Jimmy McCormack and Donal Green.
As soon as the weekend was over, the Gleoiteog-Mor went west to rejoin Connemara's busy summer Galway Hooker racing circuit.
Sean Walsh's Tir N’Og won Class Two.
The Small Gaffers was won by Wren, with Onward of Ito second.
The winner of the 100 euro purse for the first RBC 60 boat to cross the finish line was the Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter Letty.
